Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins is targeting return after Christmas

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Golden State Warriors’ DeMarcus Cousins (0) sits on the bench as they play the Sacramento Kings during the second quarter of their NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Jonas Jerebko (21) celebrates after scoring the winning shot against the Utah Jazz, with teammates Jordan Bell, rear, and DeMarcus Cousins, right, in the second half during an NBA basketball game Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Golden State Warriors’ DeMarcus Cousins (0), Andre Iguodala (9) and Klay Thompson (11) stand during the playing of the National Anthem before the start of their NBA game against New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

DeMarcus Cousins does an interview during Golden State Warriors Media Day in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Sep. 24, 2018. (Randy Vazquez/Bay Area News Group)

From left, Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins and Klay Thompson take a photo together during Golden State Warriors Media Day in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Sep. 24, 2018. (Randy Vazquez/Bay Area News Group)

DeMarcus Cousins sits down for an interview during Golden State Warriors Media Day in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Sep. 24, 2018. (Randy Vazquez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ DeMarcus Cousins (0) is photographed during the Golden State Warriors Media Day at Rakuten Performance Center in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 24, 2018. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors player DeMarcus Cousins poses for a photo with basketball campers after a press conference at the Rakuten Performance Center on Thursday, July 19, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors player DeMarcus Cousins, center, greets coaches with the teamâ€™s youth basketball camp after a press conference at the Rakuten Performance Center on Thursday, July 19, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors player DeMarcus Cousins takes part in a press conference at the Rakuten Performance Center on Thursday, July 19, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors player DeMarcus Cousins takes part in a press conference at the Rakuten Performance Center on Thursday, July 19, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ DeMarcus Cousins (0) laughs after a dunk by Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant (35) during their NBA game at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ DeMarcus Cousins (0) sits on the bench as they play the Milwaukee Bucks during the first quarter of their NBA game at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors DeMarcus Cousins (0) is photographed during the Golden State Warriors Media Day at Rakuten Performance Center in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 24, 2018. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ DeMarcus Cousins (0) and Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) sit on the bench while playing the Brooklyn Nets during the second quarter of their NBA game at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

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Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins is targeting a return from his torn Achilles sometime after Christmas, sources told the Bay Area News Group.

According to those sources:

* The determination was made during a meeting on Friday between Cousins and Golden State’s training staff, including head trainer Rick Celebrini.

* Before the meeting, Cousins was hoping to join the lineup during the team’s upcoming five-game trip.

* There have been no setbacks in the recovery process and the decision to push back Cousins’ target date was made so he can regain his conditioning and enter the lineup at peak form.

* Cousins is expected to be re-evaluated on his progress Tuesday.

* Cousins — who signed a one-year, $5.2 million deal in July — participated in a scrimmage alongside Stephen Curry on Saturday before the Warriors’ 117-116 victory over Sacramento. According to a player in the scrimmage, Cousins looked “solid.” The scrimmages have been a part of Cousins’ new six-day-a-week regimen with the team in anticipation of his pending return.

Still, Cousins and the Warriors have yet to set an exact return date and have been hoping to see how Cousins responds to contact scrimmages. After Monday’s shootaround, Cousins participated in a scrimmage as coach Steve Kerr watched.

Cousins tore his Achilles in January while a member of the New Orleans Pelicans.

Logan Murdock covers the Warriors for the Bay Area News Group. The Oakland native interned at Turner Sports and the Memphis Commercial Appeal and was a member of the Sports Journalism Institute's 2017 class.